Marked (Marked by Alphas #1)

Chapter 20

STONE brOTHERS

D erek kept his stride measured as they walked the forest trail, every step a battle between military discipline and primal need. Kai’s scent was stronger here among the pines—honeysuckle and sunshine mixed with something uniquely him that made Derek’s wolf pace restlessly beneath his skin. That damned borrowed t-shirt kept slipping off one delicate shoulder, revealing pale skin that begged to be marked.

Focus , he ordered himself, falling back on years of military training. But his wolf had other ideas, especially with how those borrowed jeans hugged Kai’s curves. His mate was so small beside him, perfect for protecting. For claiming.

Easy, brother , Caleb’s amusement filtered through their pack bond. Your control’s slipping.

He can practically taste your desire through the bond , Marcus added. Remember the plan.

The plan. Right. The careful dance they’d orchestrated to ease Kai into their world. Into accepting what they were, what he was becoming. But nine years of waiting had Derek’s wolf clawing at his restraint.

“So,” Kai’s voice cut through his internal battle, “do you actually enjoy playing forest Batman, or is this more of a family obligation thing?”

Derek’s lips twitched despite himself. Their mate’s sass was going to be the death of him. “Forest Batman?”

“Well, you’ve got the whole dark and brooding protector vibe going on. Plus, the fancy tech. Though I haven’t seen the Batcave yet—unless that’s what’s behind those reinforced doors in the security hub?”

His laugh surprised even him, rich and deep. Through their bond, he felt his brothers’ shock at the sound. When was the last time he’d laughed like this? Before the attack? Before they’d found their thirteen-year-old mate bleeding in the woods?

Kai leaned against a nearby tree, and Derek’s wolf surged forward as that cursed shirt slipped farther. The sight of that exposed shoulder, the delicate line of their mate’s throat—it shattered what remained of his control.

Derek, don’t , Marcus warned. But it was too late.

He moved without conscious thought, caging Kai against the tree. His mate’s pulse jumped, but there was no fear in his scent. Only heat. Want. Need that matched Derek’s own.

“They know they’re safe here,” he heard himself growl, fighting to keep his wolf contained. His arm braced above Kai’s head, muscles flexing with the effort of restraint. “Just like you are.”

Brother, your eyes! Caleb’s warning came as Derek’s hand finally, finally made contact with Kai’s shoulder. The first touch of their mate’s skin was electric, sending fire through his veins. His thumb traced Kai’s collarbone, drawing out a soft whimper that had his wolf howling.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he muttered. His wolf was rising, demanding they claim their mate here and now.

Don’t you dare , Marcus commanded. He’s not ready for what we are.

But Kai was leaning into his touch, those delicate hands sliding up Derek’s chest, and his world narrowed to this moment. To their mate’s warmth, his intoxicating scent, the way he fit perfectly against Derek’s larger frame.

“What if I don’t want to move away?” Kai whispered, and something in Derek snapped.

The sound he made was barely human—a deep, primal growl that should have terrified their mate. Instead, Kai shivered, his scent spiking with desire. Derek’s hand tightened on his neck, thumb stroking along that delicate jaw in a gesture that was both possessive and tender.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he warned, voice rough with restraint. But his body betrayed him, pressing closer until Kai was completely caged between him and the tree.

“Maybe I’m tired of playing it safe.”

Control yourself! Marcus’ voice was distant thunder compared to the storm of having their mate so close, so willing.

“Last chance to run,” he growled, knowing he was moments away from losing control completely.

Instead of running, Kai’s hands slid up his chest, and Derek’s control finally shattered. He moved with inhuman speed, one hand tangling in Kai’s hair while the other lifted him effortlessly until they were eye level. When those slim legs wrapped around his waist, his wolf howled in triumph.

“Mine,” he growled against Kai’s lips before claiming them in a kiss that was more possession than passion.

Kai tasted like sunlight and summer storms. Like home. Like everything Derek had been fighting for since that night nine years ago. His mate’s eager responses drove him wild, each soft sound a victory, each shiver a conquest.

Derek, stop! Caleb’s panic cut through the haze. Your wolf is too close!

He tried to gentle the kiss, but Kai’s fingers in his hair destroyed what little control he had left. His wolf was rising, demanding more. Demanding everything. The hand in Kai’s hair tightened to the point of sweet pain, tilting their mate’s head to exactly the angle he wanted.

The sound Kai made when Derek nipped his bottom lip nearly broke him. He could feel his canines lengthening, his eyes shifting to wolf-amber. Any moment now Kai would notice, would see what they really were…

When he finally pulled back, letting Kai breathe, Derek knew his eyes were feral. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he said, voice wrecked with desire. “How hard it’s been to hold back.”

His mouth found that sensitive spot below Kai’s ear, and their mate’s whole body shuddered. The scent of Kai’s desire was intoxicating, overwhelming Derek’s senses until his wolf was howling for more.

“Derek,” Kai gasped, tightening those perfect legs around Derek’s waist. “We should… we should probably…”

“Stop?” he suggested, but his lips never left Kai’s skin. “Be responsible?” Another kiss, lower on that elegant neck. “Pretend this isn’t exactly what we both want?”

A violent shudder racked his frame as his wolf surged forward, demanding they claim their mate properly. He pulled back slightly, every muscle trembling with the effort of control.

“Derek?” Kai’s gentle touch on his face nearly undid him. His jaw clenched as he fought the shift threatening to overtake him.

He growled—a sound closer to wolf than human—and pressed his forehead against Kai’s. “You make it so hard to control myself,” he ground out. His grip tightened almost painfully before he forced himself to loosen it. “So hard to… to think straight.”

Kai’s fingers stroked through his hair, and Derek actually shuddered. His wolf was too close to the surface, demanding they take, claim, mark…

“Who says you need to control yourself?” Kai whispered, and Derek’s eyes snapped open. He knew they were glowing now, burning with an intensity that should terrify their mate.

“Kai,” his name was a desperate growl. “You don’t… I can’t…”

He buried his face in Kai’s neck, breathing deeply, trying to anchor himself. But their mate’s scent only made it worse, made his wolf howl louder.

We’re coming , Marcus’ voice cut through his haze. Hold on.

“I should put you down,” he muttered against Kai’s throat. “Should let you go. Should…”

Kai wound those clever fingers deeper into his hair, and Derek’s next growl vibrated through both their bodies. “What if I don’t want you to let me go?”

The sound he made was purely animal. His mouth claimed Kai’s again in a kiss even more desperate than before. One of his hands slid under that cursed borrowed shirt, palm burning hot against Kai’s lower back, and their mate arched into the touch with a whimper that destroyed the last threads of Derek’s control.

He wrenched away with a curse, his breathing ragged. “Can’t… losing control,” he panted. “Need to… fuck.”

The last word came out as more snarl than speech. With excruciating gentleness that cost him physical pain, he set Kai down and forced himself to step back. Then another step. His massive chest heaved with the effort of restraint, hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Derek?” Kai’s voice was breathy, confused. His body swayed toward Derek even now, and God, the tree at his back was probably the only thing keeping him upright.

“Don’t,” Derek growled, his voice wrecked. “Don’t move. Please.”

He paced a short distance away, every movement screaming barely leashed power. His wolf was going mad with the need to claim, to mark, to make their mate truly theirs.

“I’m sorry,” Kai offered softly.

Derek’s laugh was harsh. “Trust me, little one, you have nothing to be sorry for.” His eyes, when they met Kai’s, still held that impossible amber glow. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn’t have… This isn’t…”

He ran a hand over his face, torn between desire and the knowledge that he’d nearly ruined everything. When he looked at Kai again, his eyes traced over thoroughly kissed lips, messed-up hair, the marks already forming on that delicate neck. Another full-body shudder ran through him.

“We should head back,” he managed, though everything in him screamed to do the opposite. “Before I… before this goes too far.”

The walk back was torture. Derek kept careful distance between them, though his eyes never left Kai. Every few steps he had to clench his fists or take deep breaths, physically restraining himself from reaching for their mate.

Then Kai’s scent shifted, deepened with renewed desire, and Derek’s control snapped completely. He stopped walking, another violent shudder racking his frame.

“Kai.” His name was a desperate growl. He took a step toward their mate, then another, moving with predatory grace. “I can’t… you smell so…”

Derek! Marcus’ voice cracked like a whip through their bond. We’re almost there. Don’t.

His hands clenched into fists, tendons standing out on his forearms. “Please,” he ground out, though he wasn’t sure if he was begging Kai to run or to stay. “I can’t… fuck…”

Marcus and Caleb burst through the trees, moving with inhuman speed. Derek barely registered Caleb wrapping an arm around Kai, pulling their mate to safety. His wolf was too close, the shift imminent.

“Derek.” Marcus’ voice held alpha command. “Go.”

He turned and ran, letting his supernatural speed take him deep into the forest. The moment he was far enough, his control shattered completely. The shift took him violently, clothes shredding as his massive wolf form burst free with a roar that shook the trees.

Through their bond, he felt his brothers’ mixture of sympathy and concern. But right now, he needed to run. To hunt. To do anything to forget the taste of their mate’s kiss and how close they’d come to claiming him completely.

Rain began to fall as Derek’s wolf tore through the forest, but even the storm couldn’t wash away Kai’s scent from his memory.

Or the knowledge that soon—very soon—they wouldn’t have to hold back anymore.

His massive wolf form crashed through the underbrush, powerful muscles bunching as he ran. The forest blurred around him, but his enhanced senses caught every detail—every scent, every movement, every potential prey. The Stone bloodline ran ancient and powerful, a legacy of carefully chosen matings with other strong shifter lines from around the world. Their wolves were larger and more powerful than any others, generations of warriors and protectors producing alphas of unprecedented strength. Even among his brothers, Derek’s wolf form was built for raw power, a perfect match to his military training.

There. A flash of movement to his left. His military precision merged seamlessly with his wolf’s instincts as he changed direction, moving like a ghost through the trees. The young buck never saw him coming. It was over in seconds—quick, clean, efficient. Just like his training had taught him.

But it wasn’t enough. The kill didn’t satisfy the primal need burning through his veins. His wolf wanted a different kind of hunt. Wanted their mate.

Focus, brother , Marcus’ voice echoed through their bond. Work it out of your system.

Derek’s wolf snarled in response, abandoning his kill to run deeper into the forest. The storm intensified around him, rain soaking his silver-gray fur, but he barely noticed. His massive form cleared fallen logs in single bounds, his power evident in every movement. Lesser wolves would have tired by now, but the Stone blood in his veins sang with endless strength.

Another scent caught his attention. Prey. This time he let his wolf take full control, losing himself in the hunt. Two more kills followed, each one executed with lethal grace. Other predators scattered at his approach, recognizing a superior hunter. An apex predator. But even this display of dominance couldn’t erase the memory of Kai in his arms.

Hours passed before Derek finally felt his control returning. The rain had soaked through his fur, but the storm raging around him matched his internal turmoil perfectly. A familiar bark drew his attention—Storm had found him, his faithful companion’s eyes reflecting understanding. The massive dog settled beside his wolf form, a steady presence that helped anchor him.

He always knows when you need him , Caleb’s voice came through their bond, tinged with affection.

Storm’s presence helped Derek focus, his military training slowly reasserting itself over his wolf’s primal needs. Together, they patrolled the perimeter of their territory, Storm matching his alpha’s movements with practiced precision.

Later that night, Derek sat against a massive pine, letting the rain cool his overheated skin. He sensed his brother before he saw him—Marcus’ black wolf form emerging from the darkness with Shadow at his side. His brother shifted smoothly, settling beside him as the rain dripped from his dark hair.

“Better?” Marcus asked.

“Getting there.” Derek’s voice was still rough from the shift. “I almost lost control.” The admission hurt. He was supposed to be the soldier, the disciplined one. “If you hadn’t shown up—”

“But we did,” Marcus cut him off. “And soon we won’t have to hold back anymore.”

Derek’s laugh was harsh. “You sure about that? Because right now, it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle.”

“The Stone blood runs strong in our generation,” Marcus reminded him. “Three alpha wolves sharing one mate—that’s what’s unheard of. The power of our combined pull on Kai…” He shook his head. “It’s why we have to be so careful.”

“Tell that to my wolf.” Derek’s eyes flickered amber in the darkness. “Nine years, Marcus. Nine years of watching him struggle alone. And now he’s here, responding to us exactly like he should, and we still can’t—”

“Soon,” Marcus cut him off, his own eyes gleaming in the darkness. “The waiting is almost over.”

They sat in companionable silence, letting the rain wash over them. Shadow remained alert at their side, his form a dark sentinel in the night. After a while, Storm returned from his patrol, settling at Derek’s feet with a quiet huff.

Derek absently scratched behind Storm’s ears, his thoughts still full of Kai—the taste of his lips, the perfect way he’d fit in Derek’s arms, the sweet sounds he’d made. His wolf stirred at the memories, but the burning need had eased to a manageable ache.

“Go hunt again if you need to,” Marcus offered, reading his tension.

Derek shook his head. “I’m good.” He glanced at his brother. “But you might want to warn Caleb. His turn with Kai isn’t going to be any easier.”

Marcus’ low chuckle held equal parts amusement and resignation. “Oh, I know. But our little brother has always enjoyed playing with fire.”

The rain continued to fall as the two brothers sat beneath the ancient pines, their wolves finally at peace. For now.

Soon, they wouldn’t have to hold back anymore. Soon, Kai would truly be theirs.

But until then, the forest would bear witness to many more midnight runs.

C aleb leaned against the kitchen doorframe, indulging in the view of their mate attempting to organize Maria’s culinary invasion of his modest kitchen. From his spot on the couch, Scout’s tail thumped against the cushions in amusement as they watched Kai stretch and bend, trying to fit container after container into the fridge. Those borrowed jeans hugged every curve perfectly, and Miguel’s t-shirt kept slipping temptingly off one shoulder, revealing more of that delectable neck with each movement.

His wolf purred with appreciation at the sight of their mate so comfortable in their territory, even if it was just this small piece of it. Scout’s quiet woof of agreement made him grin—his companion had always been the most perceptive of their pack guardians.

Enjoying the view, little brother? Marcus’ amused voice filtered through their pack bond.

Like you weren’t watching him all morning at the office , Caleb shot back, unable to tear his eyes away as Kai stretched up to reach a high shelf, exposing a tantalizing strip of skin above those jeans. Besides, our mate is adorable when he’s flustered.

Focus , Derek growled, his presence in their bond still raw from his earlier encounter. Don’t lose control like I did.

But control had never been Caleb’s strong suit, especially not when it came to Kai. Where his brothers approached their mate with calculated precision or protective possession, Caleb preferred to play—even if that play had teeth.

Scout’s warning whine pulled him back just as his eyes started to shift. Right. Control. He could do that. Probably.

Kai muttered something under his breath about Maria’s feeding campaign as he rearranged containers, completely unaware of how the domestic scene affected Caleb’s wolf. Their mate, in their territory, surrounded by their family’s offerings—it sparked something primal beneath Caleb’s playful exterior.

He fits so perfectly here , he sent through the pack bond, earning another warning growl from Derek.

Don’t get ahead of yourself , his brother cautioned. Remember what just happened in the woods.

But Caleb had never been good at heeding warnings. Not when Kai was right there, Miguel’s borrowed shirt carrying their household’s scent in a way that made his wolf want to roll around in pure satisfaction.

“Need help?” he finally offered, pushing off the doorframe. His wolf preened at how Kai startled slightly, a beautiful blush creeping up his neck.

“I’ve got it,” Kai insisted, reaching for another high shelf. “Though Maria might be trying to feed an army.”

“Allow me,” Caleb purred, unable to resist pressing close enough that his chest brushed Kai’s back. His wolf surged forward at the contact, drinking in their mate’s quickening pulse and sweetening scent. Where Derek’s touch had been possessive and Marcus’ calculating, Caleb let his movements stay playful, teasing—even as his wolf scratched at his control.

You’re playing with fire , Marcus warned.

When don’t I? Caleb shot back, placing his hands on either side of Kai on the counter. The position caged their mate between his body and the granite surface but maintained that edge of playfulness that was uniquely his. Besides, he responds so beautifully to it.

As if to prove his point, Kai pressed back slightly against his chest, that sweet scent deepening with desire. Scout’s quiet huff from the living room sounded suspiciously like laughter.

“Show-off,” Kai accused, but his voice came out breathy. Caleb’s chest rumbled with laughter, delighting in how the vibration made Kai shiver against him.

“Maybe.” He let his lips brush Kai’s ear, drawing out another delicious shiver. “But you like it, don’t you, baby?”

The pet name slipped out naturally, and the way Kai’s scent spiked in response had his wolf howling in triumph. His hands itched to touch, to claim, to mark their mate properly.

Caleb , Derek’s warning came sharp through their bond. Remember what happened in the woods.

But remembering Derek’s loss of control only made Caleb’s wolf more eager. His brother might normally approach everything with military precision, but even he had crumbled in the face of their mate’s allure. And Caleb had never pretended to have that kind of discipline to begin with—he preferred to play with his food first.

When Kai turned in his arms, those clever hands sliding up his chest, Caleb’s careful playfulness started to crack. His wolf surged forward at the contact, demanding more. Scout’s warning whine barely registered through the rush of need.

“You know what else you’d like?” The words came out rougher than intended as he gripped Kai’s waist, lifting him onto the counter. The casual display of strength drew a soft gasp from their mate that went straight to Caleb’s core.

“Did you just—” Kai started, but Caleb was already stepping between his legs, and whatever protest he’d been about to make died on his lips. Caleb’s thumbs found their way under the hem of that borrowed shirt, drawing maddening circles against Kai’s hip bones.

Your eyes , Marcus cautioned. They’re shifting.

Caleb forced his wolf back just enough to maintain control but couldn’t resist nuzzling into Kai’s neck, inhaling that intoxicating scent. “Better.” He grinned against the sensitive skin. “Now we’re eye to eye.”

“Still shorter,” Kai pointed out. Those slim hands had found their way to Caleb’s shoulders, and he could feel the slight tremor in them.

His laugh was warm against Kai’s throat. “Such a brat, kitten.” He pulled back just enough to meet those gold-flecked eyes, his wolf howling as those perfect legs wrapped around his waist. “A very tempting brat.”

When he finally kissed Kai, it was with none of Marcus’ calculated precision or Derek’s primal hunger. Caleb kissed like he did everything else—playfully, teasingly, but with an underlying heat that had Kai melting against him. His tongue traced Kai’s bottom lip, asking rather than demanding entrance, and when Kai gasped, he took full advantage.

Control , Marcus reminded, but Caleb barely heard him over the roaring in his ears. One hand tangled in Kai’s hair while the other stayed at his waist, thumb still tracing those maddening circles. When Kai whimpered into the kiss, Caleb’s wolf surged forward with a vengeance.

Scout’s bark of warning coincided with Marcus’ sharp Your fangs! , but Caleb was too far gone to care.

“Been wanting to do that since I first saw you cursing at your car,” he murmured against Kai’s lips, fighting to keep his fangs from dropping. “You looked so pretty when you were angry.”

“Smooth talker,” Kai accused but pulled him back in for another kiss. This time Caleb didn’t tease—his tongue swept into Kai’s mouth immediately, claiming and exploring in a way that had Kai tightening those perfect legs around his waist.

The gesture drew a deep growl from Caleb, his hands sliding down to grip Kai’s hips. He pulled their mate closer to the edge of the counter, pressing them together in all the right ways. His wolf was howling now, demanding they claim properly, and Caleb could feel his control slipping.

Pull back , Derek commanded. Before you shift.

Scout’s frantic barking barely registered as Caleb tensed, fighting the change threatening to overtake him. His grip on Kai’s hips tightened almost painfully before he forced himself to loosen his hold.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he ground out, resting his forehead against Kai’s. His breathing was ragged, and he knew his eyes must be electric blue now. “So hard to… to think straight.”

“Show me?” The words slipped from Kai’s lips like a challenge, and Caleb’s wolf roared in response.

His eyes darkened, but that playful smile never left, even as his whole body vibrated with restrained energy. “Careful what you wish for, pretty thing.” He pressed a surprisingly gentle kiss to Kai’s forehead, then stepped back like it physically pained him. “I should go.”

“Probably,” Kai agreed, making no move to unwrap his legs from around Caleb. The storm still raged outside, rain lashing against the windows, but somehow the cottage felt too warm.

Caleb’s laugh was slightly strained. “You’re not helping, baby.”

“Not trying to,” Kai shot back, and something in Caleb snapped. He surged forward, claiming Kai’s mouth in a kiss that was pure possession. This time when his tongue swept in, there was nothing playful about it. He kissed like a man starving, one hand fisting in Kai’s hair while the other pulled him impossibly closer.

Scout’s frantic barking finally penetrated the haze of desire just as Marcus’ CALEB! cracked through their bond. Your wolf is too close!

He wrenched away with a curse, stumbling back. His chest heaved as he ran a shaking hand through his hair, fangs threatening to drop. “I really need to go,” he said, voice rough. “Before I—” He cut himself off as another violent shudder racked his frame.

“Before you what?” Kai asked, breathless and confused by the sudden shift.

Caleb’s smile was strained but still playful, even as his wolf clawed at his control. “Before I decide to find out just how sturdy this counter is.” He stepped forward for one more quick kiss, but even that brief contact had his wolf howling. “Sweet dreams, baby.”

He practically bolted for the door. The rain hit him like a physical shock as he ran to his car, his wolf fighting to break free.

The forest , Derek’s voice came through their bond. We’re waiting.

Caleb’s hands shook on the steering wheel as Scout’s worried whine echoed from the cottage porch. His faithful companion was clearly torn between following him and staying to guard their mate.

“Stay with him,” Caleb managed through clenched teeth, his wolf fighting to break free. “Keep him safe.”

Scout’s answering bark was both acknowledgment and promise as Caleb forced himself to drive away. The taste of Kai lingered on his lips, and his wolf howled for more. He needed to run, to hunt, to do anything to forget how close they’d come to claiming their mate completely.

The forest called, and his brothers with it.

He barely made it to their meeting spot before the shift took him, clothes shredding as his wolf burst free. The transformation was violent, driven by need rather than control, but he welcomed the pain. Anything to distract from the memory of Kai’s taste, his scent, the perfect way he’d responded to every touch.

His brothers were waiting, their forms emerging from the shadows. Marcus’ pitch-black wolf regarded him with knowing eyes while Derek’s gray form radiated understanding. Shadow and Storm flanked them, the pack guardians alert and watchful.

Rough night? Derek said dryly,, but there was sympathy beneath the teasing.

Caleb’s answering growl held no heat. Like you’re one to talk. At least I made it to the car before losing control.

Both of you need to focus , Marcus cut in, with more resignation than rebuke. The Blackwoods are testing our borders again. We need to run patrol.

Lead the way , Caleb agreed, grateful for the distraction. His golden-brown wolf fell into formation with his brothers, their movements perfectly synchronized despite their different styles. Where Derek moved with military precision and Marcus with calculated grace, Caleb’s wolf prowled with fluid playfulness —even now, unable to completely suppress his natural exuberance.

But as they patrolled their territory, his thoughts kept drifting back to the cottage. To Scout guarding their sleeping mate. To the memory of Kai’s lips, his gasps, the way he’d melted into every touch…

Focus! Marcus’ command snapped him back just as he nearly ran into a tree.

Sorry , Caleb sent back, shaking his head. It’s just… he fits so perfectly. With all of us. Even our differences don’t matter when we’re with him.

We know . Derek’s tone was gentle now. But we have to be careful. The timing has to be right.

The waiting is killing me , Caleb admitted, leaping over a fallen log. How much longer?

Marcus’ answer held both promise and warning. Soon. But only if we don’t scare him away first.

They ran in silence after that, three powerful wolves moving as one through their ancestral forest. But even the thrill of the hunt couldn’t fully distract Caleb from thoughts of their mate, safe in their territory, watched over by his faithful Scout.

Soon, he told himself as they chased down another rival wolf foolish enough to cross their borders. Soon they wouldn’t have to hold back anymore.

But for now, the rain and the hunt would have to be enough.